Who owns a stone fallen from the sky? The question shakes Niger after the record sale, in New York, of the largest Martian meteorite ever found. Weighing about 25 kg, this block straight from the red planet was sold on July 16 by the Sotheby’s auction house to an anonymous private buyer, for more than $ 5 million.
Found in 2023 in the Agadez region, in northern Niger, this meteorite is now claimed by the country, which has announced the opening of an investigation to “shed light on this affair”. Niamey, the capital, believes that it presents “probably all the characteristics of illegal international traffic” and suspended, Friday, exports of precious stones and meteorites “until further notice”.
Accusations rejected by Sotheby’s, who claims that the rock has been “exported from Niger and transported in accordance with all the international procedures in force”. The auction house indicates, however, that “a review of the file is underway” in the face of controversy.
Globetrotter
According to its official description, the meteorite with ocher reflections was discovered “November 16, 2023 by a meteorite hunter in the remote region of Agadez in Niger”. Selling an international merchant, she was briefly exposed in Italy before crossing the Atlantic to join an American catalog.
For the American paleontologist Paul Sereno, who has been collaborating for years with the Nigerian authorities, everything suggests that the stone has left the country “illegality”. “Everyone is anonymous” in this case, he deplores. And to add: “If they had caught the meteorite as she rushed towards the earth and before she spotted in a country, then they could have claimed it. But there, I’m sorry, it belongs to Niger, even if its origin is Mars. »»
A legal vacuum … depending on the country
In the absence of universal legal status, the property of meteorites depends both on international law and local laws. In the United States, they belong to the owner of the land where they fell, if it is deprived. In Niger, they are considered to be protected cultural goods, in the same way as the “rare specimens” of mineralogy.
“There is no doubt in our opinion that meteorites must be included in rare specimens of mineralogy” protected, believe Matthieu Gounelle, professor at the National Museum of Natural History, and his father Max Gounelle, professor of universities, both specialists in regulations on the collection and sale of meteorites.
A scientific treasure
Beyond the legal battle, this rock called NWA 16788 represents an exceptional scientific value. Much larger than other known Martian meteorites, it could deliver unprecedented information on the geological history of Mars.
“In my opinion, it is not something that should be sold at auction and risk disappearing under someone’s coat,” pleads Paul Sereno. The scientist calls for his restitution in Niger, “where she could be studied and exposed to the public”.
